Gaobot.OIW

It spreads and affects other computers.
It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy.
It affects the productivity of the computer, the network to which it’s connected or other remote sites.
It carries out actions that decrease the security level of the computer.
It uses stealth techniques to avoid being detected by the user.
It uses anti-monitoring techniques in order to prevent it being detected by antivirus companies.
It spreads
by exploiting vulnerabilities, across the Internet, via mapped drives, through shared network resources.

Affected platforms:

Windows 2003/XP/2000/NT/ME/98/95

First detected on:

Oct. 11, 2006

Detection updated on:

Oct. 11, 2006

Statistics

No

Proactive protection:

Yes, using TruPrevent Technologies

Brief Description

Gaobot.OIW is a worm that spreads by copying itself, without infecting other files.

It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy:
passwords saved by certain Windows services; keystrokes, in order to obtain information for accessing online banking services, passwords and other confidential information; user's browsing habits.

It affects productivity, preventing tasks from being carried out:

In the affected computer:
it converts the computer into a platform for taking malicious action surreptitiously: spam sending, launch of Denial of Service attacks, malware distribution, etc.

In the local network:
it generates a large amount of network activity and consumes bandwidth.

It reduces the security level of the computer:
it terminates processes belonging to security tools, such as antivirus programs and firewalls, leaving the computer defenseless against attacks from other malware; it notifies the attacker that the computer has been compromised and is ready to be used maliciously; it awaits remote-control orders received through
FTP; it changes system permissions, decreasing the security level.

It terminates processes corresponding to several security tools, such as antivirus programs and firewalls, to prevent detection.

It injects itself in running processes.

It modifies system permissions in order to hide itself.

It uses several methods in order to avoid detection by antivirus companies:

It terminates its own execution if it detects that it is being executed in a virtual machine environment, such as VMWare or VirtualPC.

It terminates its own execution if it detects that a debugging program is active.

Gaobot.OIW uses the following propagation or distribution methods:

Exploiting vulnerabilities with the intervention of the user: exploiting vulnerabilities in file formats or applications. To exploit them successfully it needs the intervention of the user: opening files, viewing malicious web pages, reading emails, etc.

Via Internet, exploiting remote vulnerabilities: attacking random IP addresses, in which it tries to insert a copy of itself by exploiting one or more vulnerabilities.